Carillon toy



Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARILLON TOY .lohn H. Lee, Rockford, Ill.

Application February 24, 1945, Serial No. 579,604

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved carillon toy.

The principal object of my invention is to pro- 'vide a toy of attractive appearance and yet simthe runways and drop onto the adjacent upper ends of the runways beneath, thus giving off melodious sounds for the amusement and entertainment of youngsters, the arrangement enabling youngsters to vary the timing of the sounding of the chimes at will, so that their interest is maintained and they do not soon grow tired of the toy.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a front view of a toy made in accordance with my invention, portions of one of the columns being broken away to better illustrate the construction Fig. 2 is a top view of the toy, and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the parts on a larger scale.

The same reference numerals are appliedY to vcorresponding parts in these views.

The toy comprises two spaced hollow columns 4 and 5 having supporting bases 6 and 1, respectively, and top cap pieces 8 and 9, respectively. The walls of the columns 4 and 5 are preferably formed from rectangular pieces of perforated sheet metal Hl bent to approximately C-shape cross-section, as indicated in the section, Fig. 3, the longitudinal edge portions II being bent into approximate parallelism, as also appears in the section, to provide spaced vertical supports between which the end portions of a series of chutes I v2-I 1 are arranged to be secured, as by means of screws I8 entered through convenient perforations in the portions ll of the column pieces IU. Screws 23 entered through perforations in the upper and lower end portions of the columns I serve to fasten the columns to reduced portions of the bases 6 and 1 and caps 8 and 9. The pattern of perforation of the pieces I0 is indicated at the lower right hand portion of column 4, and it is apparent that the larger holes I9 are of sufficient size to receive the screws I8. The perforations, besides giving an attractive appearance to the columns 4 and 5, are of advantage from the standpoint that the melodious sounds given off in the striking of the chimes 20 are not mufiied by reason of the enclosure of the chimes in the columns. A screw 2| extends through the center of column 4 and is anchored at its lower and upper ends in the base 6 and cap 8, and forms a support for the three chimes 20 in this column, nuts 22 being threadedon the screw against each chime from the top and bottom to permanently locate the same. A shorter screw 24 is provided in the center of the column 5 for support of the two chimes therein, in a similar manner. The upper end of the screw 24 is fastened to the bottom of the cap 9 by means of a U-shaped sheet metal bracket 25, which straddles the upper end portion of the chute I2, leaving ample room for a marble 26 to be dropped through the center hole 21 in the cap 9 onto the upper end of the chute I2, to start a run through the system of chutes to strike the series of chimes 20 in order, alternating from one column to the other. The lower end of the screw 24 is anchored, as indicated at 28, onto the top of an inverted U-shaped sheet metal bracket 29, which straddles the lower end portion of the chute I1, so as to allow ample room for the marble 26 to run out into the cup 30 provided on the base 1 as a receptacle for the marbles.

Each of the chutes |2--I1 has a steeply inclined upwardly projecting end portion 3| on the upper end, by means of which the marble 26 is retained against falling off the end of the chute and is guided into the groove or channel 32 extending lengthwise of the chute. The lower or discharge end of each of the chutes, with the exception of the lowermost chute I1, is beveled off, as at 33, and is located in vertically and laterally spaced relation to the upwardly projecting end portion 3| of the next chute therebeneath, to afford ample clearance therebetween for the passage of a marble 26. The chimes 20 are so located just above the end portions 3| that the marbles" in running off the lower ends of the chutes will strike the chimes, and as their momentum is thereby checked the marbles will drop by gravity onto the end portions 3| and be thereby impelled to travel in the opposite direction. The screws 2| and 24 enable accurate adjustment of the chimes 20 relative to the adjacent ends of the chutes Aassociated therewith, so that in the assembling of the device each chime will be properly permanently set for satisfactory operation of the toy.

The operation of the toy is believed to be clear from the foregoing description. A youngster, or youngsters, playing with the toy can, of course, insert a number of marbles 26 in rapid succession in the hole 21, or at stated intervals, to obtain rapid-nre sounding of the chimes or rhythmic ding-donging thereof. As the marbles drop into the cup 30 they can, of course, be retrieved and used over again, and in that way it is unnecessary to provide very many. The returning of the marbles to the cup eliminates likelihood of their being left on the iioor. The variation in the timing of the sounding of the chimes rendered possible with this toy is enough to keep most youngsters interested indefinitely.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of :i my invention. The appended claims have been drawnrto cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

Iclaim:

1. A carillon toy comprising spaced substantially vertical carillon towers, inclined chutes mounted at o-pposite ends in and extendingr between said towers in vertically spaced relation, alternate chutes sloping toward loneV end and intermediate chutes sloping toward thel other@ end, chimes mounted in said towers in vertically spaced relation, each chime being'large in diam'- ete'r vin'relati'on to the NwidthI of the chutes and adapted to Serve; independently of said towers, as stopabutments for rolling objects running oil' the lower ends of said chutes` the lower ends of a' number of chutes being disposed in radially spaced proximity to said chimes so that a rolling object rolling 01T the lower end of a chute will be stopped by striking the adjacent chime and drop down by gravity between the chime and the end of the chute. the upper end portions of a number of chutes being disposed under said chimes-so as to catch said 'rolling objects after they strike the chimes, and one or vmore freely rolling objects adapted to roll down the runways fromv one to kanother and in the course of such movement to strike said chimes alternately in one and then the other of said towers.

2.' A carillon toy comprising spaced substantially vertical carillon towers, inclined chutes mounted at opposite ends in and extending betweensaid towers in vertically spaced relation, alternate -chutes sloping toward'one end. 'and intermediate chutes sloping toward the other end, chimes mounted in said towers in vertically spacedrelation adaptedto serve as'stop abutments for rollingobje'ots'runningoii Athe lower ends'of said chutes, the lower ends of :a number of chutes beingdisposed in radially spaced proximity-to `said Vchimes so `that a rolling-object rolling off` the lower end 'of a chute will be stopped by striking the adjacent chime andl drop down by gravity between the chime and the end of the chute, the upper end'portions of a number of chutes being disposed under said chimes vso as to catch said'rolling objects-after they strike the chimes, and one or more'freely rollingV objects adapted to roll down the runways from one to another and in the course of such movement to strike said chimes alternately in one and then the other of'said towers, substantially vertically disposed screws in said towers on which said chimes are supported forv vertical adjustment relative to the adjacent ends of the chutes.

3. Av carillon toy comprising spaced substantially vertical carillon towers, inclined chutes mounted at opposite ends in and extending between said towers in vertically spaced relation, alternate chutes sloping toward one end and intermediate chutes sloping toward the other end, chimes mounted in said towers in vertically spaced relation adapted to serve'as stop abutmentsffor rolling objects'running oli the lower ends-of said chutes, the lower ends of anurnber of chutes 'being disposed in radially spaced prox- =in the course vof suchl movement to ,strike said chimes. alternately in one .and then-,the other of `said towers, substantially vertically disposed screws in said towers on which said chimes are supported for vertical adjustment relative to the "adjacent ends of the chutes, and nuts adjustably threaded Aon said screw above and below each chime.

4.'A carillontoyfcomprising spaced substantially` vertical carillon towers, inclined chutes mounted at opposite ends in and extending between said towers in verticallyzspacedA relation, alternate chutes sloping toward one end andintermediate chutes sloping toward the rotherend, chimes mounted in said towers in vertically spaced. relation adapted to serve as stop abutments for rolling objects running'oi the lower ends of said chutes, the lower ends of a number of chutes being disposed in radially spaced proximity tosaid chimes so that a rolling object rolling off the lower end of a chute will be stopped by striking the adjacent chime and drop down by gravity between the chime and the end ofthe chute, the upper end portions of a number of chutes being disposed under said chimes vso as to catch said rolling objects after they strike the chimes, and one or more freely rolling'objects adapted to roll down therunwaysfrom one to another and in the course of such movement to strike said chimesalternately in one and then the other of said towers, each tower being of hollow construction, comprising a body member of flexible sheet material bent to substantially C-shaped cross-section to give the towers a substantially cylindrical form to house the chimes, which are of circular form', substantially centrally therein in radially spaced'relation to the inside of the tower, the longitudinal Ledge :portionsyof said sheet material being' bent 'into spaced Aapproximate parallelism on each tower.: ,and V`said chutes, which arelof rectangular forrmbeing disposed'with their opposite Yendl portions between said edge portions and'suitably secured therebetween.

5. Acarillon toy comprising spaced substantially vertical carillon towers, inclined chutes mounted at opposite ends in and extendingybetween said towers in'vertically spaced relation, alternate chutes sloping toward one end and 'intermediate chutes sloping toward the other end, chimes mounted in said towers in vertically spaced relation adapted vto serve as stop abutments for rolling objects running oir the lower ends of said chutes,fthe lower ends of a number of chutes being disposed in radially spaced proximity to said chimes so that a rolling `object roll'- ing ofi the lower end of a chutewill be stopped by striking the adjacent chime and dropdown by gravity between thechime and theend of the chute, the upper end portionsof a numberof chutes being disposed under said 'chimes so as to catch said rolling objects after they ystrike the chimes, one or morefreely rolling objects adapted to rolldown'theirunways from .one to-another and inthe coursegoflsuch movement to strike said chimes alternately in one and then the other of said towers, each tower being of hollow construction, comprising a body member of flexible sheet material bent to substantially O-shaped cross-section to give the towers a substantially cylindrical form to house the chimes, which are of circular form, substantially centrally therein in radially spaced relation to the inside of the tower, the lengitudinal edge portions of said sheet material being bent into spaced approximate parallelism on each tower, and said chutes, which are of rectangular form, being disposed with their opposite end portions between said edge portions and suitably secured therebetween, the sheet material of both body members being perforated substantially uniformly throughout the area thereof to avoid muilling the sound of said chimes, and there being fastening members entered through selected perforations to secure the end portions of said chutes to said towers.

6. A carillon toy comprising spaced substantially vertical carillon towers, inclined chutes mounted at opposite ends in and extending between said towers in vertically spaced relation, alternate chutes sloping toward one end and intermediate chutes sloping toward the other end, chimes mounted in said towers in verticalli7 spaced relation adapted to serve as stop abutments for rolling objects running off the lower ends of said chutes, the lower ends of a number of chutes being disposed in radially spaced proximity to said chimes so that a rolling object rolling off the lower end of a chute will be stopped by striking the adjacent chime and drop down by gravity between the chime and the end of the chute, the upper end portions of a number of chutes being disposed under said chimes so as to catch said rolling objects after they strike the chimes, one or more freely rolling objects adapted to roll down the runways from one to another and in the course of such movement to strike said chimes alternately in one and then the other of said towers, each tower being of hollow construction, comprising a body member of flexible sheet material bent to substantially C-shaped crosssection to give the towers a substantially cylindrical form to house the chimes, which are of circular form, substantially centrally therein in radially spaced relation to the inside of the tower, the longitudinal edge portions of said sheet material being bent into spaced approximate parallelism on each tower, and said chutes, which are of rectangular form, being disposed with their opposite end portions between said edge portions and suitably secured therebetween, the sheet material of both body members being perforated substantially uniformly throughout the area thereof to avoid muliling the sound of said chimes, said towers including tops and bases having reduced portions entered in the upper and lower ends of said body members, respectively, and fastening members entered through selected perforations to secure the tops and bases to said body members.

7. A carillon toy comprising spaced carillon towers having chimes mounted therein in vertically spaced relation, inclined chutes mounted at opposite ends in and extending between said towers in vertically spaced relation, alternate chutes sloping toward one end and intermediate chutes sloping toward the other end, the lower ends of a number of chutes being disposed in laterally spaced proximity to said chimes so that a rolling object rolling oii vthe lower end of a chute will be stopped by striking the adjacent chime and drop down by gravity between the chime andthe end of the chute, the upper end portions of a number of chutes being disposed under said chimes so as to catch said rolling objects after they strike the chimes, one or more freely rolling objects adapted to roll down the runways from one t0 another and in the course of such movement to strike said chimes alternately in one and then the other of said towers, a base and a top for each of said towers, a vertical threaded rod secured at its ends to the base and top on one of said towers and having the chimes in said tower vertically adjustably mounted thereon, the top on the other tower having a vertical hole provided therein directly over the high end portion of the uppermost chute, the base on the same tower having a receptacle thereon adjacent the lower end of the lowermost chute to receive spent objects, U- shaped members bridging said high end portion of said uppermost chute and the lower end portion of said lowermost chute and fastened to the last mentioned top and base, respectively, and a vertical threaded rod secured at its ends to said U-shaped members and having the remainder of said chimes vertically adjustably mounted there- 8. A carillon toy comprising spaced carillon towers having chimes mounted therein in vertically spaced relation, inclined chutes mounted at opposite ends in and extending between said towers in vertically spaced relation, alternate chutes sloping toward one end and intermediate chutes sloping toward the other end, the lower ends of a number of chutes being disposed in laterally spaced proximity to said chimes so that a rolling object rolling oi the lower end of a chute will be stopped by striking the adjacent chime and drop down by gravity between the chime and the end of the chute, the upper end portions of a number of chutes being disposed under said chimes so as to catch said rolling objects after they strike the chimes, one or more freely rolling objects adapted to roll down the runways from one to another and in the course of such movement to strike said chimes alternately in one and then the other of said towers, abase and a top for each of said towers, a vertical rod secured at its ends to the base and top on one of said towers and havin@r the chimes in said tower mounted thereon in ver tically spaced relation, the top on the other tower having a vertical hole provided therein directly over the high end portion of the uppermost chute, the base on the same tower having a receptacle thereon adjacent the lower end of the lowermost chute to receive spent objects, U-shaped members bridging said high end portion of said uppermost chute and the lower end portion of said lowermost chute and fastened to the last mentioned top and base, respectively, and a vertical rod secured at its ends to said U-shaped members and having the remainder of said chimes mounted thereon in vertically spaced relation.

J OHN H. LEE. 

